AWS Executive Insights

In this special encore episode from AWS re:Invent, AWS CEO Matt Garman joins Acquired podcast co-hosts Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal for an in-depth conversation on AI, agents, and the future of business. Listen in as Garman shares his leadership journey from AWS intern to CEO, discusses why inference is becoming a fundamental building block for developers, and reveals how AI is enabling smaller teams to deliver exponentially more value. He also explores the organizational shifts enterprises must make to stay competitive, the evolution of agentic AI, and why agility and speed remain critical regardless of technological change.To catch the full interview session featuring additional speakers, Max Neukirchen (J.P. Morgan Payments), Greg Peters (Netflix), and Aravind Srivinas (Perplexity), click here to watch on YouTube -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ExjNvGYDiU.

Explore how AI is transforming consumer goods execution with Arvind Mathur, AWS Executive in Residence, and Anupam Sinha, CEO and Co-founder of Vxceed. Anupam reveals how Consumer Packed Goods (CPG) companies are leveraging predictive AI, generative AI, and agentic AI to close the execution reality gap that has plagued traditional trade for decades—turning delayed insights into real-time market responsiveness. From preventing stock-outs to achieving autonomous trade promotion optimization, discover how forward-thinking leaders are protecting market share against digital-first insurgent brands penetrating traditional retail channels. Learn why your field execution strategy—powered by AI that delivers actionable intelligence—has become your most critical competitive advantage in markets where traditional trade still drives 95% of volume.

How will agentic AI reshape tomorrow’s workforce? Join AWS Executives in Residence Stephen Brozovich, Jake Burns, and Miriam McLemore for a look at how agentic AI is changing entire enterprises—not just IT departments. Unlike previous technology shifts, agentic AI demands integrated cross-functional teams and a fundamental rethinking of competitive advantage. Our experts share candid thoughts on upskilling existing employees over hiring new talent, transforming data from siloed assets into accessible strategic resources, and building authentic experimentation cultures where leadership genuinely rewards risk-taking. Discover why your proprietary data—not the AI technology itself—will become your key differentiator, and learn how to build the agile, integrated teams essential for AI implementation success.

In this fireside chat with AWS CEO Matt Garman and AWS VP of Global Services, Uwem Ukpong, hear about the latest developments at AWS and why they matter to your business. Featured at the AWS Executive Summit at re:Invent, this discussion addresses everything from navigating data sovereignty with the European Sovereign Cloud, to building custom AI models with Nova Forge and Trainium chips, to transforming software development with frontier agents. Learn how AWS is helping enterprises unlock AI's full potential while maintaining control of their data and reimagining how teams work.

How do you run one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds (nearly $2 trillion) while innovating responsibly? In this episode of AWS Executive Insights, hear from Birgitte Bryne, CTO & COO of Norway’s Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM), about how NBIM is leveraging data-driven decision making and AI innovation to achieve resilience in the financial world. Take a listen as Tanuja Randery, AWS Managing Director for EMEA, interviews Byrne about NBIM's disciplined approach to digital transformation, including their decision to migrate to AWS public cloud and groundbreaking “Investment Simulator,” which uses AI to optimize trading decisions. Listeners will gain actionable insights on balancing innovation with pragmatism, building a culture of resilience, and leveraging generative AI for competitive advantage.

Discover how Amazon measures and improves developer experience at enterprise scale in this interview with Jim Haughwout, VP of Software Builder Experience at Amazon. Drawing from Amazon's retail business expertise, Jim reveals how the "cost to serve" metric transforms developer productivity measurement by focusing on system-level efficiency rather than individual performance. Learn how Amazon balances developer autonomy with standardization, implements tension metrics to prevent gaming, and leverages AI to re-imagine software development workflows. This essential discussion provides practical frameworks for quantifying developer experience improvements and connecting them directly to business value, from deployment automation to AI-assisted development at scale.

In this episode, we sit down with Lawrence Fong, Director of Digital and IT at Cathay, as he reveals how one of Asia's premier airlines is leveraging AI and machine learning to transform every aspect of their operations. Drawing from his 30+ years of experience at Cathay Pacific, Lawrence shares practical insights on building customer-centric digital transformation, fostering innovation culture, and managing change in the volatile aviation industry. Together with AWS Enterprise Strategist Xia Zhang, Lawrence discusses how leaders in highly regulated industries can embrace digital culture, build agile teams, and create innovation frameworks that drive measurable business outcomes while maintaining premium service standards.

Discover the potential of agentic AI as experts delve into transforming data into actionable outcomes. Learn how to overcome data paralysis and foster a culture of experimentation. Experience practical insights from industries like Formula 1, where focused data use drives rapid decisions. Explore the balance between structured and unstructured data and the importance of sharing insights across organizations. Uncover real-world use cases that highlight measurable productivity gains, and get advice on leading data initiatives for continuous improvement.

In this episode of AWS Executive Insights, Tanuja Randery, VP and Managing Director of EMEA for AWS interviews Darren O'Kelly, CEO of Untold Studios, a next-generation creative powerhouse that has earned BAFTA and Grammy nominations for its groundbreaking work across advertising, music, and film. The conversation explores O'Kelly's journey from traditional VFX production to co-founding an entirely cloud-based creative studio that launched in just six weeks, challenging industry conventions with projects ranging from Super Bowl commercials to Netflix's "The Crown." O'Kelly shares his leadership philosophy of combining "two-thirds experience and one-third naivety," discussing how this approach has enabled Untold Studios to build a culture of excellence that attracts global talent, including major artists like Adele, Billie Eilish, and Oasis. The discussion also delves into the impact of AI and emerging technologies on the creative industry, O'Kelly's commitment to mentorship and diversity, and his vision for the future of storytelling.

Learn how to balance AI innovation with risk management in this episode of AWS Executive Insights, featuring Adam Marré, CISO at Arctic Wolf. Drawing from his unique background spanning everything from the US Army, to video game design at Disney Interactive, to FBI cybercrime investigations, Marré shares his perspective on building next-generation security operations and navigating AI security controls in today's threat landscape. He offers advice for translating security risk into business language, managing third-party risk, and implementing AI-powered security operations without replacing human judgment. Marré also discusses the value of building more diverse security teams through programs like Tech-Moms. This conversation is essential listening for security leaders navigating the intersection of AI innovation, talent development, and enterprise risk management.